“When we have vocabulary, they prefer to look up the words on their phone,” she said. “They have their phone out anyway, and I just turn to them and say ‘look this up.’”

About 10,000 of Locklin’s fellow techy teachers will gather in Orlando this week for FETC, one of the nation’s largest education technology conferences. The 33-year-old conference used to be called the Florida Education Technology Conference, organizers said, but was renamed as the event grew and began to draw a national following.

In the early days of computers, she said, schools viewed technology in term of business skills such as typing.

But now?

“There’s been a transition from technology being a tool on the side of education,” Womble said, “to technology being completely integrated into the education day.”

Educators say they are excited about the potential that new technologies offer, but also have questions about how those digital tools will work with new curriculum and how schools will pay for the bandwidth, computers and other items needed to outfit students and schools.

Interactive Learning

Incorporating more technology in education has many potential benefits:

Digital textbooks can be updated more quickly, and include interactive items such as videos or a timeline. In addition, digital books may be less expensive than traditional books.

Students are already using smart phones and tablets. Why not deliver lessons on a device they already love using? Long-term, educators hope technology might mean higher attendance rates and fewer discipline problems. It also allows teachers to deliver lessons outside of school hours.

Tablets and computers can provide instant feedback. For instance, in an Orange County classroom every student has a tablet. When the teacher asks a question, he or she can instantly see which students got the answer right and help those who didn’t. And the tablet ensures that every student participates – even the shy ones.

It provides real-world skills. Reading, writing and arithmetic aren’t enough anymore if students can’t use a computer or a word processing program. When’s the last time a colleague sent you a hand-written memo?

Technology provides more choices. Just like iTunes allowed music buyers to pick and choose what songs they want, schools and teachers could soon pick and choose only those pieces of curriculum and lesson plans they want.

Challenges Ahead

Courtesy of Mariolga Locklin

Miami-Dade teacher Mariolga Locklin

But many Florida schools districts will try to integrate these high-tech tools into low-tech facilities.

Miami Palmetto teacher Locklin says her school is a half-century old.

One reason she uses her phone in class is because the school computers are unreliable and the Internet network is slow.

Letting students use their own devices helps keep their interest. But those who don’t have a fancy phone can feel left out, she said.

The PTA is buying flat screen TVs for some classrooms – but Locklin wants something more.

This week StateImpact Florida will be looking at Florida’s attempt to modernize its classrooms and instructional materials. What are school districts doing to prepare? How much research is there on whether high-tech education tools actually work?